My focus has always been teaching, I love it. If you ask anyone who knows me I have always said, that I LOVE my job and that it is not work. I look forward to my occupation as a music teacher every single day and I have NEVER woken up in my life and said that I didn't want to go to work. What I have also discovered about music is that it opens up avenues to so many other things and currently, I have delved into a different area of music; more specifically Music and Medicine. I am a big proponent of using music in a therapeutic way, be it in Hospitals, hospices, Education, healing, nursing homes, for the use of chronic conditions and so much more. From my own research curiosities (Check out my RESEARCH page, and blog post soon), I connected with a wonderful Medical Doctor in Toronto who has created a great organization to use music as a tool for Health Promotion, how cool is that? Isn't it neat to have a blend of both ART AND SCIENCE. If you know me, I am also passionate about one's health (in all it's forms), health policy, and nutrition, so, if one can use music as a catalyst to help their well being, or motivate them to exercise, I am all for it. Please check Dr. Alter's webpage: Vigour Projects And more of his initiatives here: Vigour Projects Youtube video -Music and Health Panel at Toronto Rehab As someone who is passionate and thoroughly interested about the Voice, Flute and music in general. I am always excited when I can get my hands on a really good book that will help enlighten my mind about music. Even though I have been doing this job (although, I tend to say musical lifestyle) for over a decade, I never stop learning. Three books that I can recommend are the following: The Voice Book by Kate DeVore and Starr Cookman This is an excellent book. Kate and Starr are performers and Speech Language Pathologists explain things thoroughly and the accompanying CD is a wonderful tool. However, it does not replace 'in person' vocal lessons. The role of a good vocal coach/teacher is to be able to pick out nuances in your voice and anything that may not be working properly. Doing your own training by just reading a book is not the most beneficial appraoch, but a good supplement. The second book I would recommend is, the "Inner Game of Music" by Barry Green. Although, this book was written in the 1980's it is still relevant for today. This book touches upon the psychology of being a budding professional musician, our thought process and our self-talk. Green looks at the challenges we face as musicians and how to overcome them; especially things like performance anxiety and better practice management. Lastly, the third book I would recommend, if you are a music aficionado is Norton Anthology, A History of Western Music. It is one of the Bible's of Music History, starting from the Middle Ages all the way until the 20th Century. It is an outstanding piece of work that deals with the Ancient Greeks to Medieval/Renaissance, Baroque/Classical, Romantic to the end of 20th Century; looking at Opera, Symphonies, Jazz to Ragtime and so much more. The illustrations are absolutely incredible and there is also an accompanying CD book if you wish to purchase as well. This is an expensive book, but well worth the investment. It is utterly important as a vocalist to drink a good amount of water. It helps to lubricate the vocal chords throughout the day so that we steer clear of a dry throat, but that we are ready to perform on stage when need be! The following is a great article explaining the benefits of drinking water from a vocal perspective. It is written by a Canadian medical Doctor who practices in the United States. The Whole Truth About Water and Singing? Dr. Jahn: Everyone always says “drink water well before your gig” – because the water doesn’t touch the folds but needs to be absorbed before it can hydrate the voice. But it always feels good to drink water as I’m performing! So I am wondering if this is not the whole truth! Does the immediate effect of the water on the mouth/throat lining above the vocal folds also, in some way, impact the lining on the vocal folds and therefore help my singing immediately? -Kevin Dear Kevin, As a general principle, hydration is good. More specifically, as a singer your entire respiratory and vocal tract benefits from drinking water. So, as a baseline, I recommend drinking water throughout the day. it is best to spread this over your day – like “grazing” when you eat. That way, the water is absorbed easily, and you’re not overly distending your stomach, which might impair breathing and support. We generally recommend eight 8 oz glasses a day, two with each meal and one between meals. Now, consider what happens when you perform. Your mouth is open, and you may be sweating, two facts that add to your insensible water loss. It is somewhat like exercising – you’re losing more water, and need to replace it. Most importantly, however, the excitement of the performance pumps adrenaline, causing what is called a sympathetic response. Adrenaline shuts off many of the secretory glands, and, guess what? Your mouth and throat get dry. So, definitely drink, not just before the show for hydration ( but don’t overload your stomach), but also during the show. Finally, if you think about what happens when you drink during the show, you will realize that it gives you a little break, and causes your larynx to move up and down in the neck, almost like a momentary massage to your vocal tract. So definitely keep sipping! The bottle or glass of water on stage is now a generally accepted prop, and will not interfere with your performance. -Anthony F. Jahn, MD, FACS, FRCS(C) This discussion is for general information and not to be construed as specific medical advice that you should obtain from your own physician. Dr. Jahn is an internationally renowned otolaryngologist based in Manhattan with a sub-specialty interest in the professional voice. His practice includes classical and popular singers. He holds academic appointments at Columbia University and Westminster Choir College in Princeton, and is Medical Director at the Metropolitan Opera and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Dr. Jahn has published "The Singer's Guide to Complete Health" (Oxford University Press) - a comprehensive guidebook on a wide range of health issues that affect the voice. For Rainy Days, when you have some time to spare..............................
Grab a coffee, relax in your favourite chair and peruse many of the musical articles I have for you! Here you will find information, tips and tricks about Voice, Flute and Piano, and other aspects of becoming a professional musician. There will also be an emphasis on the importance of music education. So please, check regularly. Pleased you have taken the time to read Gracenote Studios Music Blog! Sincerely: Rebecca Gracey Owner of Gracenote Studios Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada |
AuthorGracenote Studios- a professional music studio created by a woman passionate about teaching others to find their music within! Archives
September 2020
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